The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-13
DOWNING THE CLYDE LINE.

Inauguration of a Fierce Steamship
War-Florida Only Affected.
On the 10th the new through rate of first
class freight of the Ocean Steamship and
Mallory Companies went into effect with
reference to Florida freights inward and
outward. The news was given by wire a
few days ago from New York of the in
tended reduction 80 per cent? in Florida
Manager of the Ocean Steamship
Company, was seen, but said
there was nothing further to give
The order emanated from New York and
as their company was the northern connec-
ton of the Savannah, Florida and Western
system, they, of course, conceded. The
General was shown what Col. F.. B. Papy,
of the Savannah Florida and Western,
said, and after reading it over carefully he
said it about described the situation Mai
Hardee, General Passenger agent of the
Savannah, Florida and Western railway,
was out of the city, but an official of the
road said that the only
thing they knew of it was the
reception of the order from New York,
and they transmitted it to Florida. The
rates affected are to and from Florida, but
not freights from Savannah North. Ever
since the Clyde line began business in Florida
there has been slashing of rates, to secure
a portion of the business that the older lines
had secured there. First they had the Flor
ida Railway and Navigation Company sys-
tenn to aid them, by extending facili-
ties that their competitor, the NAL
lory line, could not obtain.
The courts finally put stop to this but
the competition has been close and aggres-
sive all the while. The rate on fiist-class
freight from Jacksonville to New York was
COO. per hundred at first. 1t was then re-
duced to SOC. by the Clydes. Afterward it
was lowered again and now is to be reduced
to Csc. Mr.. Leslie, agent of the Clyde line
at Jacksonville, Fla, says it is an organized
effort to punish" their line for first making
the reduction But, he said, they cannot
"bulldozen us so easily.
Col F. B. Papy, of the Savannah, Florida
and Western Railroad expressed his views
in regard to the great reduction in freights
from New York in an interview in a Jack
sonville paper as follows:
Colonel Papy, as you represent the Sa-
vannah, Florida and Western Railroad in
part can you explain the reasons for the re-
ductionm was asked.
II was not surprised to read the announce
ment. The Savannah, Florida and Western
Railroad and Ocean Steamship Company
have made several attempts to reach agree
ments with the lines out of New York, by
which questionable methods of obtaining
business might be discontinued"
What do you mean by questionable
methodist
81 mean the purchase of business by
means of rebates either in freights or pas
sengers Such methods are in violation of
the law and contrary to good policy. Each
line should depend upon its merits. And
again it is not to the interest of the lines
practioing it or to the community that is
supposed will reap the benefit of it.
''What do you mean by your statement
not to the benefit of the community, etc n
81 mean that the condition of things
which the Clyde line has forced, cannot be
confined to any locality, their practices like
the influence which the St. Johns river ex-
erts in the matter of rates ramifies and ex-
tends far into the interior as well as to river
points"
did you carefully read what Mr.. Leslie
said"
''Yes, sir. Mr.. Leslie is an elegant gen
tleman. | am sorry that he was not better
advised of the reasons-had he been | am
sure that he would not, as he did, suppose
that it was an attempt to bulldoze. He
ought to have credited It to failure on the
part of the Ocean Steamship Company to
obtain n meeting, even, at which a definite
agreement might be discussed"
Jacksonville, being the basing point, GER
tainly should be benefited, and other points
only to the extent that Jacksonville isP'
Just there is where you are mistaken
but have but little time; am on my way
to Atlanta. Mr.. Leslie or the Clyde Line
can perhaps give much more satisfactory
reply TO your question than can. The Sa-
vannah, Florida and Western railroad sim
ply desires to do business upon business
principles 1t is not what the rate shall be-
whether 25c. or Csc. that they wish. They
wish it to he one that will pay the lines in
interest, but whatever it be, let it be an
agreed rate, not to be departed from by any
system of rebates, reduction of freight or
passage To the free pass and rebate syS-
tenn communities, as well as transportation
lines, must charge the misfortunes which
follow rate wars. Good-hy.'